SEX SCANDAL ROCKS EEC

MBABANE – Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has been hit by a sex scandal that has seen one of its female employees resigning.

It has been gathered that one of the most respected and highly-rated female employees penned  an in-depth letter of complaint before resigning from the parastatal.

The complaint was about how she had been allegedly subjected to sexual assault by one of the parastatal’s executive managers.
In an unprecedented manner, the employee *Gugu, circulated her letter of complaint directed to EEC Managing Director Meshack Kunene, to some Board of directors, executive management members and the workers’ union.

Courageous

Gugu, it has been alleged, pulled the courageous act during the last week of March.
In her three-page letter of complaint, which the Times has a copy of, Gugu complained bitterly about the executive manager’s alleged unwelcome and untiring sexual advances.

The name of the manager is known to this newspaper but cannot be published as he has not been charged.
In the letter, Gugu wrote; “After a long thought process, I’ve come to a decision to break my silence and report the sexual harassment that has been occurring since 2015. The reason I’ve been unable to report the matter is fear of retaliation, embarrassment and blame for the harassment, especially because this person holds a senior position and was and still is influential in the company.” 

She also stated that her other reason for taking long to break the silence was that the matter was very sensitive and scandalous as her husband also worked for EEC.
“I have decided to break my silence because in the past year, up to now, my refusal to give in to his sexual requests has resulted in him getting personal and negatively influencing certain decisions about me such as training which has resulted in unfair treatment, adverse disciplinary sanctions with immense pain and humiliation,” alleged Gugu.

Even in her resignation letter, Gugu further alleged that she had endured sexual harassment in the company and had feared to come out as it was humiliating and derogatory to her.

“After the experience I’ve had in the previous months, I cannot be sure that I’d be protected by the company from such unwarranted advances. All these events have taken a serious toll on my mental and physical health and I cannot be subjected further. Therefore, I’m left with no other option but to resign,” she wrote.

In a cellphone recording discreetly captured by Gugu, the alleged culprit promised to promote her and ensure that she completed her studies without being disturbed if she consented to his sexual advances

Influence

In her letter of complaint, Gugu disclosed that the manager initially pretended to coach and support her in as far as her career growth was concerned, promising to influence management yet it was a strategy to allegedly seduce her into sleeping with him.

“I have been brushing off his attempts as I could not comprehend how he would even sexually pursue me as we are both married and he pretends to be a friend to my husband who works for the company,” Gugu elaborated in her letter of complaint. 

She stated further; “I’ve elected to write directly to you MD and the Board as this matter is sensitive and scandalous.  It is also disturbing and stressful for me and my husband to have to navigate the issue.”

She alleged that there were other EEC female employees who were aggrieved about sexual advances made towards them by the same manager and she chose to break the silence.
 “I have evidence of my claims and relevant details that I will release at the appropriate time,” Gugu concluded. 

  
This publication has gathered that after receiving the letter, the MD and the Board have considered sending the alleged perpetrator on forced leave.
At the time of compiling this report, it could not be ascertained if he had already been furnished with the letter.
*Not real name to protect complainant

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